8th International Conference on Hyperacusis and Misophonia (ICHM8)
Organized by Hashir International Institute Hosted by EUHA
- 14 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026
- Hanover, Germany
Welcome to the 8th International Conference on Hyperacusis and Misophonia
We are thrilled to welcome you to the 8th International Conference on Hyperacusis and Misophonia (ICHM8), taking place from 14–16 October 2026 in Hanover, Germany. ICHM8 continues the tradition of uniting global experts across ENT, audiology, mental health, neuroscience, and patient advocacy to explore the latest in research and clinical innovation. With keynote speakers, a rich interdisciplinary programme, and a vibrant exhibition, this conference is your opportunity to connect, learn, and shape the future of care for those living with sound intolerance. We look forward to seeing you in Hanover for this landmark gathering.
President
Dr Hashir Aazh (United Kingdom)
Honorary President
Professor Gerhard Goebel (Germany)
Scientific Faculty
- Dr Hashir Aazh (United Kingdom)
- Dr Ansar Uddin Ahmmed (United Kingdom)
- Dr Sarah Albelaikhi (Saudi Arabia)
- Dr Nora Al konaisy (Egypt)
- Dr Hala AlOmari (Jordan)
- Professor Gerhard Andersson (Sweden)
- Dr Berkay Arslan (Turkey)
- Dr Zehra Aydoğan (Turkey)
- Dr Natan Bauman (USA)
- Dr Joel I Berger (USA)
- Ms. Siri M. Bergseth (Morway)
- Dr Eldre Beukes (USA)
- Ms. Florence Bronny (France)
- Dr Jennifer Jo Brout (USA)
- Dr Tana B. Carson (USA)
- Dr Carlos Cuilty (Mexico)
- Professor Nuno Trigueiros Cunha (Portugal)
- Professor Ali A. Danesh (USA)
- Dr. Arianna Di Stadio (Italy)
- Professor Wolfgang Ellermeier (Germany)
- Dr Amr El Refaie (Republic of Ireland)
- Dr Haitham H. Elfarargy (Egypt)
- Professor Saad Elzayat (Egypt)
- Dr Mercede Erfanian (The Netherlands)
- Dr Kathryn Fackrell (UK)
- Professor Marc A. Fagelson (USA)
- Professor Gerhard Goebel (Germany)
- Dr Zhao Han (China)
- Professor Erin E. Hannon (USA)
- Professor Nina Heinrichs (Germany)
- Professor Laurie Heller (USA)
- Professor Vasiliki Maria Iliadou (Greece)
- Dr Zahra Jafari (Canada)
- Dr Jaelline Jaffe (USA)
- Dr Kelly Jahn (USA)
- Professor Wafaa Kaf (USA)
- Dr Zacharias Kalentakis (Greece)
- Dr Stergios G. Kaprinis (Greece)
- Professor Hannah Keppler (Belgium)
- Professor Marlies Knipper (Germany)
- Dr Sukhbinder Kumar (USA)
- Ms. India Lawton (UK)
- Professor Ho Yun Lee (South Korea)
- Mr. Don McFerran (UK)
- Dr Anne Möllmann (Germany)
- Professor Brian C.J. Moore (UK)
- Ms. Guri Engernes Nielsen (Norway)
- Dr Arnaud Norena (France)
- Professor Vasco de Oliveira (Portugal)
- Professor Ann E. Perreau (USA)
- Professor Elisa Pfeiffer (Germany)
- Dr Prashanth Prabhu (India)
- Dr. C. Lucia Florez Pulido, (France)
- Dr Tricia Scaglione (USA)
- Professor Joel S. Snyder (USA)
- Dr Lauren Taylor (UK)
- Professor Jamie Ward (UK)
- Professor Sven Vanneste (Republic of Ireland)
- Dr Sabarinath Vijayakumar (UK)
- Dr Silia Vitoratou (UK)
- Dr. N.C.C. Vulink (The Netherlands)
- Dr. Myriam Westcott (Australia)
- Dr. Sanjeev Yadav (India)
- Professor Fan-Gang Zeng (USA)
- Professor Karin Zimmer (Germany)
Early carrier and student track:
- Ms. Yesim Ozuer (Belgium)
- Ms. Mercedes Woolley (USA)
- Mr. Nico Remmert (Germany)
- Ms. Marte Karoline Herrebrøden (Norway)
Scientific programme
The 8th International Conference on Hyperacusis and Misophonia (ICHM8) represents a landmark gathering of researchers, clinicians, and lived experience experts dedicated to the understanding and treatment of sound intolerance conditions. As the field has evolved, so too has the need for a more structured approach to organising the wealth of emerging research, clinical insights, and interdisciplinary contributions. To meet this need, ICHM8 is organised around a series of clearly defined scientific tracks.
Scientific tracks are thematic pathways that allow for focused exploration of key domains. Each track brings together related research presentations, symposia, and discussions, enabling participants to engage deeply with the most pressing questions and developments within specific areas. This format enhances the coherence of the conference programme, facilitates networking and collaboration, and promotes meaningful dialogue between specialists and generalists alike.
For ICHM8, the use of scientific tracks reflects the complexity and interdisciplinarity of hyperacusis and misophonia. These conditions are no longer viewed solely through the lens of audiology or psychology. Instead, they demand input from neuroscience, medicine, education, social science, philosophy, and the arts. Our track structure mirrors this diversity, creating space for both established research areas and emerging perspectives.
By design, the tracks highlight:
- The core mechanisms and neurophysiological substrates of sound intolerance.
- The clinical realities and innovations in audiological and medical management.
- Developmental, psychological, and cultural aspects that shape individual and societal experiences.
- Tools and approaches for diagnosis, measurement, and conceptualisation.
We believe this structure empowers participants to navigate the programme with clarity while encouraging cross-fertilisation of ideas across domains. Whether you are an audiologist, neurologist, clinical psychologist, occupational therapist, educator, researcher, or artist, you will find in these tracks a shared language and a platform to contribute to the future of hyperacusis and misophonia care.
Track 1: Neural Mechanisms and Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience
This track explores the neural underpinnings of hyperacusis and misophonia across cortical, subcortical, and network levels. Emphasis will be placed on excitatory-inhibitory balance, limbic and salience network engagement, and how neurobiological markers relate to perceptual, cognitive, and emotional disturbances. Contributions from imaging, electrophysiology, and experimental psychology are welcomed, alongside genetic and neurodevelopmental insights. This track aims to foster an integrated understanding of brain-based mechanisms and their role in symptom severity, individual variability, and targets for neuromodulation or behavioural intervention.
- Cortical hyperexcitability, disinhibition, and network connectivity
- Limbic involvement, emotion regulation, and threat processing
- Cognitive control, attention, and executive function in sound intolerance
- Brain imaging: fMRI, EEG, MEG, and electrophysiological biomarkers
- Genetics, neurodevelopment, and sensory gating mechanisms
Track 2: Audiological Interventions and Service Innovation
This track focuses on the role of audiologists in diagnosing and managing hyperacusis and misophonia. It covers both traditional and emerging sound-based interventions, remote service models, and innovations in care delivery. Presentations may address hearing aids, sound generators, digital therapy platforms, audiologist-led CBT, and collaborative care strategies. The track also invites contributions on service design, implementation science, and training frameworks that empower audiology professionals to lead interdisciplinary solutions for sound intolerance.
- Hearing aids, sound generators, and tinnitus retraining adaptations
- Sound therapy and modified desensitisation for misophonia/hyperacusis
- Digital service delivery: remote, iCBT, smartphone-based programs
- Audiology-led protocols and clinical practice models
- Integrated care pathways and interprofessional service design
Track 3: Medical, Pharmacological, and Surgical Approaches
This track addresses biomedical perspectives on hyperacusis and misophonia, including ENT, neurological, and pharmacological management. Topics include middle and inner ear surgery, case reports on medication outcomes, neurotological workup, and novel therapies such as neuromodulation or bimodal stimulation. The aim is to establish diagnostic clarity, safety, and effectiveness of interventions delivered by medical professionals, as well as fostering cross-disciplinary discussion with audiologists and psychologists.
- Surgical interventions: stapedotomy, round/oval window reinforcement
- Pharmacological treatments and case studies (e.g., SSRIs, neuromodulators)
- Multisensory, neurological, and systemic comorbidities
- ENT and neuro-otological evaluations and differential diagnosis
- Bimodal and neurostimulation-based interventions
Track 4: Children, Adolescents, and Neurodevelopmental Conditions
This track highlights research and clinical approaches to hyperacusis and misophonia in paediatric and neurodivergent populations. Contributions may explore prevalence in autism, ADHD, and APD; impacts on education, language development, and family routines; and interventions tailored to children and adolescents. Multidisciplinary perspectives involving audiology, occupational therapy, psychology, and speech-language therapy are encouraged.
- Sound intolerance in autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorders
- Impact on development, learning, and family life
- OT-informed and adapted CBT interventions
- Screening, diagnostic tools, and school-based accommodations
- Developmental trajectories and early intervention frameworks
Track 5: Psychological and Multimodal Therapies
This track invites research on psychological and behavioural interventions for hyperacusis and misophonia. It covers CBT (delivered by audiologists, psychologists, or via digital platforms), mindfulness-based therapies, and integrative or transdiagnostic models. Submissions may also examine therapy mechanisms, treatment resistance, and outcomes across settings. Emphasis is placed on innovation, personalisation, and adaptation for different clinical populations.
- CBT protocols: audiologist-led, psychologist-led, and internet-based
- ACT, DBT, and mindfulness-based interventions
- Group therapy, family-based treatments, and hybrid models
- Emotion regulation, anger management, and cognitive restructuring
- Mechanisms of change and transdiagnostic applications
Track 6: Sociocultural, Philosophical, and Patient Perspectives
This track focuses on the lived experience and broader sociocultural framing of sound intolerance. Papers may explore patient narratives, disability models, stigma, healthcare access, and how culture, art, and philosophy inform our understanding of misophonia and hyperacusis. It also invites critical perspectives, including ethical questions, advocacy, and how to integrate patient voices into research and care.
- Patient narratives, lived experience, and qualitative studies
- Disability frameworks and quality of life assessments
- Sociological and anthropological approaches to sound intolerance
- Cultural depictions, art, and philosophical interpretations of noise aversion
- Advocacy, stigma, and identity in misophonia and hyperacusis
Track 7: Diagnostic Profiles and Psychoacoustic Assessment
This track covers the tools and procedures used to assess hyperacusis and misophonia, supporting accurate diagnosis and subtyping. Topics include psychoacoustic testing, loudness discomfort levels (ULLs), questionnaires, audiological profiling, and sensory differentiation. It invites work on developing, validating, and applying new instruments, including those used in both clinical and research settings.
- Loudness discomfort levels (ULLs), dynamic range, and auditory thresholds
- Psychoacoustic testing protocols for hyperacusis and misophonia
- Questionnaire development, validation, and factor analysis
- Differentiation from APD, tinnitus, and auditory neuropathy
- Sound identification, emotional reactivity, and test–retest reliability
Track 8: Noise Sensitivity, Environmental Factors, and Public Health
This track explores population-level phenomena related to sound intolerance, such as noise sensitivity, and auditory defensiveness, as well as the role of environmental noise exposure. It invites work from public health, epidemiology, occupational health, and urban planning. Broader contextual influences on misophonia and hyperacusis—including sensory overload, noise pollution, and acoustic ecology—are welcome.
- Noise annoyance, noise sensitivity, and environmental sound exposure
- Auditory defensiveness and sensory over-responsiveness
- Relation of these concepts to hyperacusis: Convergent and discriminant validity
- Urban noise policies and occupational health implications
- Epidemiological surveys and population prevalence studies
- Acoustic ecology and restorative soundscapes
Call for Abstracts
We invite you to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations at the 8th International Conference on Hyperacusis and Misophonia (ICHM8), the world’s leading scientific meeting exclusively dedicated to hyperacusis and misophonia research and clinical innovation.
All faculty members and speakers are responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation, and conference registration expenses.
Conference Themes
Submissions are welcome across the following scientific tracks:
Track 1: Neural Mechanisms and Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience
Track 2: Audiological Interventions and Service Innovation
Track 3: Medical, Pharmacological, and Surgical Approaches
Track 4: Children, Adolescents, and Neurodevelopmental Conditions
Track 5: Psychological and Multimodal Therapies
Track 6: Sociocultural, Philosophical, and Patient Perspectives
Track 7: Diagnostic Profiles and Psychoacoustic Assessment
Track 8: Noise Sensitivity, Environmental Factors, and Public Health
Submission Details
- Abstract Length: Maximum 300 words
- Format: Structured (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions)
- Deadline for Submission: 15th February 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 15th March 2026
- Submission Link: [Insert Link or Instructions]
Presentation Types
- Oral Presentations (15–20 minutes)
- Poster Presentations
- Featured Early Career Researcher Session
We welcome submissions from researchers, clinicians, practitioners, and students across audiology, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, ENT, education, and allied fields.
Be part of the future of hyperacusis and misophonia research. Submit your abstract and join an international community driving innovation and understanding
**Registration and other essential information